Supporting structure



Oct. 13, 1931. THOMAS 1,826,843

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 17, 1925 Patented Oct; 13,

Application=filedsepteinber 17, 1925;;Seria1] in. 56,962. j i

r i jer ateat the saine frequency, but one transmitting on horizontal waves and-the other [on' v E' ception andin ho 5 mm er 'c and th et toj itionwit r out dismantling the" invention relates to novel structures for supporting suitable articles .or devices invertical, horizontal or lntermedlate positions,

and permitting easy adjustment- 0f the sup-1 ported member-from one position to theother.- As will appear later, niyinvention is partic ularly useiul for supporting radio loops in vertical or in horizontal receivingo ition,

although the invention is not limited to that fieldJ a Loop antennae have heretofore been setup ina ertical plane to intercept radiantenergy ff s' It s-teen papa-a, it utilize horizontal sent, out by broadcastingstations, rNot only must the loop he placed in Verticalposition; but-ffor the hestv' resultsit'should pointin thef f direction ofthe transmitting station. *In the broadcasting niethods heretofore employed,

has been supposed that: the electric 1 oscilla tions picked up by a loop: were travelling in I a verticalplane. ,Henceflthasheen necessary to support the receivlngloop lIl Vl'tlCal po's1-' 1 tion. a

waves in broadcasting-that is,-.waVe's which a H are propagated in a horizontalplane, Inorder toirece ve horlzontalwawesulna radlo set;

operating on a loop, 1t ls necessary to have I the loop'in horizontal position; @Infact', the

same station may send out looth kinds ofwayes, at thesame time; or, two stanon ma opertical-waves; Theisameloopmay hens'ed forfreceiving eitheif kindof wave, but it must y frame, the latterbeingfshown'in horizontal be in vertical position for yertical-wave reliQl t l p l Q f v It is one ofthe objectsofim walla-unite eidtoif a 1P.

y mp H vertical p k n up horizontaL a eItransInissiQn.{ 5:; I v ntlqflw Fig: 5fisayview similar to Fig} 3, showing a nected to the loop frarne,andfthismemher is adapted to be clamped onthe -rail to hold the frainelinhorizontal or vcrticalposition, I or m any position between the two extremes.

hinged at'oneend to-the support,or itn ay'he ashortpiec'e held onthe rail by" as'nut atits v outer end. :'If the supportingqra-il is simply a rod or solid strip; the oonne cting inemher on 'th'eqframeis recessed .to fit 'overi the rod I with a sliding contactfi 'A set 'screw or the likeclamps the recessed member, in adjusted v '7 position on the supporting rod.

,Several' illustratiye e'In-hodi ticalrec'eivingposition inhorizontal receiving- ;position sec i a. a e fi pfm vention are shown 1n the accompanying draw a Fig. 1 shows in l p su o t .7

lack of space) beingshown slipported in er: I v

.Fig. 2'is'a sidenview (on a smallerscale) I of the construction shown in Fig. 1, with the n 1 p S te ,B

' Figj3 showsincr oss-section, on Fi;g. 4', anenlargedside View of the conv nectionl between the support and the loop p :35 positi o'n by fullnllines anj ginjverticalposition j *bydotted lines"; a I

f; Fig. 4 "ani end viewof Fig, 3, partly -in.

modified, fornrin;which the 's'npportih'grail lvlotedholtmonntedonthe support and p iQW- IQifEigpaxtl rst' to ijthe' 1 1 4thereisja basel -whichsiip 1 a *isasql-idrod orstrip gthatis', without a slot);

Fig. 7 shows or v 's-sect on, on -line ,7 l V a further modificationjincluding a p5:

adjusted position on the ports a post or stand 2. The parts 1 and 2 are to be considered as representing any practical support for the loop frame, but for convenience I shall refer to the member 2 as a post,'

without thereby intending any limitation. The post 2 may be pivotally mounted on base 1, as by a pin 8 or otherwise, for the purpose of permitting horizontal adjustment of the vertical loo-p. On the top of post 2 is fixed a plate 4, which is provided witha curved rail 5 having a longitudinal slot 6. The rail 5 is preferably formed integral with plate 4.

A loop support indicated as a whole by L is provided with a cross-arm 7. In the pres ent instance. this arm consists of two sections securedto a central metal bracket 8, as best shown in Fig. 4;. This bracket is re essed as indicated at 9, and the ends of the 7 sections of the cross-arm preferably abut against the shoulders 10 formed on the bracket 8. so as to provide a rigid connection between the bracket and the two sections of the crossarm. Through a hole in the bracket Sentends bolt 11 provided with ahead 12 at one end and a wing-nut 13 at the other end. The bolt 11 projects through the slot- 6 011 rail 5 and is thereby slidably mounted'on the rail.

As may be seen from Fig; 3. the loop frame L is mounted invertical and horizontal receiving position on the support 2: by simply sliding the bolt 11 along the rail 5 and then clamping the loop frame in adiuste position by meansof the wing-nut 13. Fig 3 shows the loop frame supported in horizontal position. the vertical :position of the frame being indicated; by means of dotted lines. By accommodating the wingnut 13 in the recess 9 of bracket 8. onlva very short bolt is required. r Alsdthis arrangement of the nut contributes to the neat appearance of the supporting structureas a whole. I

In Figs ti and 6 the supporting rail isin the form of arsolid strip or bar 14: formed integral with. orattached to. a plate 15 on nost 2." To the cross-arm 7 of the loonframe secured a; connecting piece 16 which is shown in theform of a hollow rectangular bracket adapted to fit slidably' over the rail 14:. A set screw 17 clamps the loop frame in rail 14. Fig. 5 shows the horizontal position ofthe loop '11 full lines and the vertical position in clotted ines. v

The modification of Figs. 7 and 8 differs .from the construction shown in 3 and %l' in having a bolt 18 p plate 4 which carriesthe s pivotedbolt 18 operates l way as the bolt 11 of Fi ed at .19 on the porting the loop frame in vertical and horizontal receiving position. "Therefore; what has beensaid about Figs. 3 and rappin ted 5. .1 The ascefully to Figs. of repetition.

Ttwill be seen from the foregoing that I have provided very simple means for supporting a loop in vertical as well as horizon receiving position. No tools or separate securing means are necessary in holding the 1 7 and 8, without the necessity cop rigidly in either receiving position. ill that the operator needs to do is loosen ans tighten afinger nut or a set-screw.

T he loop frame L may be of any practical construction and design, and I have shown a rectangular loop frame merely for convenience. Th cross-arm 7 in Figs. 3-10 is intended to represent, ina fragmentary way, any suitable'loop frame.- ,The; particular point or points of connection between theloop frame and the support will depend largely upon the form and slze of the frame on which the loop wires are wound; Inthe drawings T have shown the loop frame connected at one point only on a cross arm; If it 1s desired to connect the loop frame-atthe sides to the support there would be a' pair of supporting posts and the connections 'pre-' viously described would be duplicatedat the sides of the loop frame. This will be understood without further description or illustration.

Since the loop frame in vertical position hangs at one side of the supporting post 2, the base 1' may be extended forwardly so that the center of gravity of the loopf'rame may fall well within the'body of'the base-to secure stabilityof the structure as a. whole."

ous modifications is shown in the form ofa circular. arc, itis obvious thatthis precise configuration is not necessary. It is sufficient if the rail is so bent or curved. that the frame maybe supported 1 in vertical and in horizontal position;

The particular constructions herein shown nd described 1 are to be considered merely as illustrativeexamples ofifmy invention and not as limitations or restrictions. Changes curto those skilled in the art without d'eparting; from the scope of/the invention as defined in the appended claims. j It is; hardly.'necessary to explainithatit he and further modifications will doiibtl'ess'jocdescriptive terms f'vertical an clihorizo'ntal. i

in referencetofthe position of the supported 1,30

frame are not used here in their strict'mathematical or physical meaning. In ordinary usage, those words generally indicate positions that merely approximate true vertical and true horizontal. Furthermore,-,radio re-' ceiving loops need not necessarily be in the exact vertical or horizontal position in order I speak of a frame in the claims, ruse the word in its broadest possible sense to include slot, and a nuton the outer end of said bolt for clamping said frameagainst said railin V to perform their intendedfunctions, and it is in this broad and practical sense that the words vertical and horizontal are used in the description and the claims. When I any suitable member supported in adjustable position, such as a loop frame, picture frame, mirror and numerous other articles. VVhatIclaim-as my invention is: n i

1. A structure comprising a support, a

plate secured on said support, a curved slotted ra-il formedintegral with said plate and extending upwardly therefrom, a bolt hinged on said plate and projecting through the slot in said rail, said projecting end of the bolt, being adjustable in saidslot,--a frame connected to the projecting end of said bolt,

so that said frame maybe adjusted on said rail to anyposition betweenethe ends of said adjusted position.

2. As a new article of manufacture for use 7 r in supporting structures, a flat 'pla te'provided with an integral flat rail which extends from one edge of the plate and curves over "the same, the fiat surface of said. rail lying in a curved planefwhich is substantially a continuation of theplane of said plate, the

edges of said curved rail being disconnected from said plate. Y

'3. As a new article of manufacture for use in supporting structures, a plate provided with a curved slotted rail, abolt hinged on i said plate and projecting through the slot of said rail, a manually adjustable member on the projecting end of said bolt, and a part connected to said bolt and arranged between said rail and member, whereby said member jecting through a hole in said off-set the sides of said central ofisetiportion, and a support for holdingsaid frame inany position between horizontal and vertlcal, said support including a bolt. projecting through a hole insaid off-set portion.

6. In a supporting structure, a frame pro vided with a cross arm consi'sting'of two separate sections and a middle connecting piece, 7

said connecting piece being formed of a metal strip having a pair of end projections and acentral off-set portion arranged to form a recess, the sections of said cross arm being secured to thevends of said connecting piece and abutting against the sides of said central off-set portion, a support for holding said frame in any position between horizontal and vertical, said support'including a bolt roand a nut on the bolt in said recess. p

7. A supporting structure comprising-a so i p Q n,

base, a curved slotted rail extendingrigidly and flatwise from said base, an a ustable member pivoted at one end to said baseand at its free end projecting radially through the slot in said r'ail,'and means for releasably connecting the freeend of said member to said rail in any adjusted position ofsaid, I

member,- said connectingmeans being adjustably mounted onthe projecting' end of said member.

bolt hinged .at one end andv at'its free end projecting through the slot in said rail,"said projecting end of the bolt bein radially ad justable along said slot, a mem erv connected to the adjustable end of said bolt, and means engaging said-adjustable end of the bolt to justed position. i v j ADOLPH A, THOMAS.

is adjustable to clamp said part to the rail in any position of the bolt.

4. As a new article of manufacturefor use insupporting structures,'a plate provided J with an integral slotted rail which extends from one edge of the plate and curves over the same, a bolt hinged on said plate and projecting through the slot of said'raihand a 1 clamping nut on the projecting end of said bolt.

vided with a cross arm consisting of two separate sections and a middle connecting 5. In a supporting structure, a frameproi piece," said connecting piece being formed of r a metal strip having a pair ofend projections and a central off-set portion, the sections of said cross arm being secured tofthe ends'of c,

said connecting piece andabutting against "secure saidmember to said rail in anyad- 95 8. A structure comprising .a'support, a curved slotted rail fixed on said'support, a 

